Crocodile hunt

This animal painting from 1739 by François Boucher reflects the strong tradition of animal subjects in eighteenth-century French art. As the leading painter of the French Rococo and favorite artist of Madame de Pompadour, François Boucher demonstrates decorative elegance and sensuous brushwork in depicting the natural world. Painted during the late Baroque period, the work speaks to the period's fascination with natural history and the sporting culture of the French aristocracy.

The painting reveals François Boucher's sensuous brushwork and keen understanding of animal anatomy and movement. The naturalistic rendering of form and texture demonstrates careful study from life, while pastel palette lends the image its distinctive vitality.